Tractor



Jan. 30, 1923.

N. C. WOODIN.

SHEETS-SHEET l- N. C. WOODIN.

Jan. 30, 1923.

TRACTOR.

HLED MAY18.1916.

f ww

Jan. 30, 1928, 1,443,778.

N. c. wooDIN.

TRACTOR'.

FILED MAY18.1916. 7 sHEETs-SHEET 5.

Jan. 8021928.

N. C.' WOODIN.

TRACTOR.

HVLED MAY 18, 1916.

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SHEETS-SHEET. B.

Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,778. N. C. WOODIN.

` TRAcToR.

lLED MA-Y 18, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Patented Jan. 30, 19 23.

uNiTED sTATEs mam P-'ATENT oFFicE..

NORMAN C. WOODIN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO F. C. AUSTIN MACHINERY'COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRACTOR.

Application filed May 18, v1916. Serial No. 98,250.

7 '(1 ((ZZ who-m, 'it 'may conce'l'n le it known that I, Konna): C. W'oomN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, 'isconsin. have invented a certain new and 'useful Iinprovement in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to traction-engines, or tractors, as they are colnmonlycalled, but more particularly to those which are propelled by internal-colnbustion-engines, such as an ordinary gasoline-engine, and especially those which are so constructed that all four Wheels are suitably connected with the engine, thereby to provide a fourwheel driving-arrangement, and the steering gear being alsoconnected and arranged for controlling both the front and rear .wheels.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide an improved and highly eflicient. tractor of the foregoing general Character.

Special objects are to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby bevel-gears or other devices are employed in the transmission from the engine to the Wheels, thereby obviating the necessity of using universal joints in the connection; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby a friction-drive-transmission is employed as a substitute for gearing, in a practical and reliable manner, thereby overcoming the difiiculties and objections which usuallyv attend the use of gearing; to provide an improved steeringgear-arrangemcnt whereby the four wheels of the tractor are Controlled at will to steel' the machine to the right or the left, or in such manner that both the front and rear Wheels turn in the same direct-ion and travel parallel, -thus making it possible to quickly move the .tractor bodily in a sidewise direction, as Well as to turn it around or steer it to the right or the left; and to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general eticiency and desirability of a tractor of this particular Character.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accolnpanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a tractor embodying the principles of my invention.

in F ig. 6.

duty, gasohne englne.

g. 2 is a side elevation of the said tractor. f

I'ig. 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 in Fig; 5.

Fig.'8 is a transverse section on line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9--9 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectionon line 10-10 vin Fig. 8.

' Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail ofthe steering-gear-mechamsm.

s thus illustrated, niy inventio'n comprises a horizontal frame A composed, preferably, of channel-iron, or of any other suitable material. Upon this frame, near the forward end thereof, is mounted an engine B, of any suitable character, such as an ordinary four-cylinder, slow-speed, heavy- The said engine has a fiy-wheel Z) which is suitably connected 'with the longit-udinally-disposed drivingshaft C, the latter having its forward endportion 'inounted in a suitable bearing c, or supported in any desired manner. The trans'verse shafts 1 and 2 are supported i'n bearings 3, at their ends which are adj acent the shaft C, and are disposed in the horizontal plane of the latter, being provided, respectively, with large bevel-wheels D and E, these wheels being provided withinner and outer and intermediate friction-bevels 4, 5 and (i, of any suitable character. Frietion-bevel-whee-ls 8, 9 and 10 are splined on the shaft C, the wheel 8 being arranged to engage the bevels 6 on the wheels E and l), while the wheel 9 engages the bevels 5 and the wheel 10 engages the bevels 1, in a manner that will be readily understood. The friction-bevel-wheel ll is loose on the shaft C, being provided with a sleeve .12 which extends through the pinion 13 and which is provided at its end with a splined frictionclutch-member' l-t for engaging the other clutch-member 15, which is keyed to the longitudinal driving-shaft C in any suitable manner. The frction-bevel-wheels 8, 9 and, 11 are of the same diameter, but the friction-bevel-wheel 10 is of less diameter, preferably, thereby to change the speed in the desired manner. A yoke-like frame F extends over and under the friction-beveltransmission thus provided, and upon the bottom portion f of this frame are pivoted the upright levers 16, 17 and 18, which are suitably constructed and arranged for shifting the friction-bevel-wheels 8, 9 and 10 on the shaft C when it is desired to change the speed. Bell-crank-levers 19 20 and 2lare pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the frame F, and are connected by links 22, 23 and 24 with the levers 16, 17 and 18, respectively. Iell-crank-levers 25, 26, 27 and 28 are pivoted on the rear end of the frame F at 29, and the rear endsof these belleranks are provided with pedals G. H, I and J, which are within reach of the driver. The hell-Crank 25 has'its forward end-portion connected by a link 30 with the upper end of the lever 31 whichlhas its lower end pivoted at 32 upon the bottom portion f of the frame F, this lever 31 being suitafly constructed and arranged for shifting the fric-l tion-bevel-wheel 11 on the shaft C, na manner that will be readily understood. The bell-cranks 26. 27 and 28 are connected by rods 33, 34 and 35 with the upper ends of the bell-cranks 21, 20 and 19, respectively, whereby operation of the pedals H, I and J will control the friction-bevelwheels 10, 9 and 8, while operation of the pedal G will control the friction-bevelwheel 11; and to hold the said pedals in any desired position they are provided with pivoted-dogs 36 for engaging the ratchetteeth 37 on brackets 38 which are rigidly mounted on the main frame of the machine. The pinion 13 engages a gear-wheel 39 on the `longitudinally-disposed shaft 40, which latter is supported in suitable bearings below the frame A, said gear-wheel being keyed or otherwise secured to said shaft.

The rear axle K is of suitable form and construction, having its ends provided with spindles lc for the rear driving-wheels L, which latter have internal -gear-teeth Z at. the inner sides thereof. This axle turns or skews about a Vertical axis provided by the cylindric portion 41. which extends upward through a suitable bearing 42' on the main frame and is provided at its upper end with a split collar 43. This axis is also formed in part by the cylindric element 44 at the bottom of said axle, which extends through the stationary portion 45, the latter being: supported in any suitable manner. The drawbar 46 is secured to the lower end of the element 44 by a nut 47, or in any suitable manner. and is attached at its end to the vertically-disposed draft-bar 48, the latter being provided 'with a series of holes 49 for ensuring the desired connection with the plow or other implement, or with anything else which is to be hauled behind the tractor. This axle K is hollow and is provided with a chamber 50 containing an upper idlerbevel-pinion :31 which engagcs the bevelgears 52 and 53 on the shafts 40 and 54. the latter having its rear end provided with a bevel-pinionfor engagingz 'the differential-gearinz 56 at the rear of the axle. This differential-gearing may be of any suitable. known or approved character, and 'is provided with the two shaft-sections ST and 58 for the pinions 59 and (50 which engage the teeth Z of the rear traction-wheels. The shaft 54 and the difi'erential-gearing .36 are suitably supported by a boxing or housinr 61 secured to the rear side of the axle K, so that when the said axle turns about its vertical axis the differential-gearingz and its connections to the rear traction-wheels swing or skew in unison about the same axis. The bevel-pinion 51. it will be seen. rotates about the said vertical steering-axis of the axle. The front axle M is also hollow and provided. like said other axle. with spindles upon which are mounted the front tractionwheels N. the latter having internal gearteeth a like those of the rear wheels. The bevel-gearing of the front axle is similar to the rear axle, and this is also true of the differential-gearing P. whereby the bevelgearing and the differential-gearing are practically duplicated at the front and rear ends of the machine, except that the front gearing has a lower pinion o instead of the pinion 51 of the rear gearing. The said front axle M must, however, in addition to skewing about a Vertical axis. tilt about a horizontal axis as well. in order that all four wheels may stay on the ground while passing' over roug'h or uneven surfaces. For this purpose, therefore, the front axle is provided with a yoke I which is supported by the cylindric bosses (1 on the axle M. and the short shaft 1 extends to the differential-gearing P, which short shaft is similar to the shaft 54 at the rear end of the machine. The lower end of said yoke is suitably connected with the forward end of the frame-member or guard R which extends alonr the bottom of the machine. TVith this arrangement, therefore. the front axle l\/[ can turn or skew about its vertical axis provided by the cylindric-member 02 which extends upwardly -from the top of the yoke I in a suitable bearing on the main frame of the machine. In addition` however. this axle M can tilt about a horizontal axis while the machine is passingz over uneven ground. To permit the skewing of the axles, a clearance 'm is provided in the axles for the shaft 40 and the gearing.

The steering-geai comprises a pair of transverse shafts S and T mounted in suitable bearings below the body-frame.. The shaft S has its end portions connected by chains 8 with the opposite end-portions of the front axle M, said chains being wound in opposite directions upon said shaft. Similar chains t connect the opposite end-portions of the shaft T with the rear axle li, said chains being wound in opposite directions upon said shaft. It will also be observedthat the chains 8 and t at one side'of the machine are so wound upon their respective shafts that rotation of the latter in the same direction will wind the two chains thereon; and this is also true of the' two chains at the other side of the machine, so that when these two shafts are rotated in one and the same direction the two axles are skewed in opposite directions to steer the machine to the right, and when the two shafts are both rotated in the opposite direction the two axles are then skewed oppositely to steer the machine to the left. The means for rotating the shafts S and T comprises a longitudinally-arranged shaft 63 provided with screws or worms 64 and 65 for engaging, `respectively, the wormwheels 60 and (57 on the shafts S and T, said worm-gearing being adapted to rotate the two shafts in the same direction. At its rear end, the shaft (33 is rovided with a bevel-pinion (S8 for engaglng the bevelgear 69 on the lower end of the steeringshaft 70, which latter is provided at its upper end with a steering-whee'l 71 of suitable form and shape. The worm-wheels G6 and 67,`in order to further carry out the requirements of my invention, are loose on' the shafts S and T (see Fig. 11) and are provided on their inner sides with clutchteeth 72 for engaging t-he splined and sliding clutch-members 73 and 74 mounted, respectively.` on the shafts S and T, bell-cranklevers 75 and 76 being provided for controlling said clutch-menibers. The pinion TT is keyed on the shaft- S, while the similar engaging pinion 78 is loose on the shaft T; but the latter pinion is provided with clutchteeth 79 for engaging the sliding clutchmember 74, which latter is adapted for this purpose. For ordinary steering purposes, the clutch-members 73 and 74 are in engagement with the worm-wheels (S6 and (ST, so that the two shafts S and T will rotate in the same direction when the steeringwheel is rotated. However, when the clutchmember 74 is shifted into engagement' with the pinion T 8, leaving the clutch-member T3. in engagementwith the worm-wheel 66, the rotation of the steering-wheel will then operate only the worm-wheel 66. but the pinion 77 will rotate the shaft T in the opposite direction through the medium of the pinion 78 which is now locked to the shaft T through the splined-clutch-member 74-, in a manner which will be readily understood. lVith the steering mechanism in this condition, the shafts b' and T Will rotate in opposite directions,`so that the front and rear axles will be skewed in the same other Words, the rear` Wheels will not track i with the front wheels, although traveling parallel therewith, but will travel either to the right 01' to the left of the front wheels, so that the traetor, in etl'eet, will move bodily in a sidewise direction; which is of considerable advantage when the tractor is being used in the field for various purposes. The bell-crank 74 is connected by a rod 80 with the hand-lever 81,, and the similar rod 82 connects the bell crank T6 with a handlever 83, which levers are provided with locking devices for engaging the segments or curved-racks 8-1 suitably mounted on the body-frame, whereby these two hand-levers can be held in different positions. Either shaft -S or T can be rotated alone, by properly manipulating the clutches 73 and T4, as it is obvious thattonly shaft S will rotate if clutch 'H is in neutral position between Wheels 67 and T8, and that only shaft T will rotate if clutch 73 is .in a neutral position between the wheels 66 and 77 while the ('lutch T4 is in engagement with the wheel 6.7; and in this way either the front axle or the rear axle can be skewed alone and without skewing the other axle, when,

this is desirable or necessary.

Thus, the hand-levers 81 and 83 atthe rear of the tractor are in position to be opel'- ated by the driver occupyingt-he seat-U to control the clutches of the vsteering-mechanism, so that the front and rear axles can be skewed in the desired manner. The pedals H, I and J are within reach of the said driver, the. pedal G being' employed for Operating the reversing-clutch formed by the two members 14 and 15 and the pedals H, I and J- controlling, respeetively, the liio'h, intermediate and low speeds of the frietion-bevel-transmission through which the power is communieated from the engne to the front and rear traction-wheels. The bevels 8, 9 and 10 are driven at the same speed, and while bevel 10 is of somewhat less diameter than the other, it will be seen thatI this is more than 'offset by the small diaineter of the bevel so that bevel 10 will drive the idlers I) and E at higher speed than they are driven' by the bevel 8 or The intermediate speed friction-bevel-wheel 9 has, preferably. a roller-clutch 85 which permits this intermediate speedv transmission-connection to remain closed-that is to say, which permits the wheel 9 to remain in engagement with the bevel .3 while the highspeed bevel-wheel 10 is in engagement with the berel -L which enables the driver to change piickl \v from intermediate to high speed without the necessity of manipulat-ing the foot-pedal which controls the intermediate speed. .\lso. the idler-wheels I) and l' have roller-clutches HU and ST for the herels (S. so that the latter may each have relative rotation on its wheel in one direction but not in the other. With this arrangement bevel S can stay in engagement with berels t` after bevel 9 is thrown into engagement with bevels Also. bevels S and S) can stay in engagement when bevel LU islshifted into engagement with berels 4 on said idler-wheels. Thus. the speed can be changed to high without opening either of the other two speed transmissions. These roller-clutches can. of course. be of an suitable character. and are well known.

'ith the idler-berels l and arranged as shown. the torque of the shaft 44) is balanced on the steering gear. when the latter is in condition to skew the axles in opposite direct'ons. thus making the machine steer as easil)v to the right as to the left.

Pulleys SH and 89 are secured to the outer ends of the shafts 2 and 1 and. as they run in opposite directions, are available for driving various kinds of machinery. the clutch (l-L and 15) being open at such time, and the bevel 11 being outof engagement with the bevels on the idlers.

Clams relating to the steering gear. in

accordance with the requirement of the Patent Office. have been incorporated in the divisional application Serial No. 195,276, filed October 8. 1917.

'ith the construction shown and described. it will be seen that the idler 0 at the front of the machine is atthe bottom of the gearng. while the idler 51 is at the top of the gearing at the rear end of the machine` whereby the shafts 40 and -l rotate in opposite directions. and whereby the short shaft l at. the front of the machine, which corresponds to the short shaft 54. rotates in the same direction as said shaft :'-l `that is to say. the two short shafts 1 and 5-1 rotate in the same direction. in order to drive the wheels I, and N in the same. direction. while the main shaft 40 rotates in the opposite direction.

'hat l claim as 'my inrention is 1. In a tractor, a motor. wheels for supporting and driving the tractor. and means including a friction-be\'el-change-speedmechanism between said motor and driving wheels to propel the tractor forward at a suitable speed. in combination with means separate from and independent of said mechanism to reverse the gearing and propel the tractor backward.

2. A structure specified in claim 1, said mechanism including a pair of oppositely arranged idlers Operating about a transverse axis and each having a plurality of berels of different diameters. sliding elements operated in unison by the motor about a common longitudinal axis to engage said bevelsv` wherebv to rotate each oppositely arranged idler at different speeds. a rotary member operated at a variable speed by said idlers about said axis. and means by which to transmit the Yariable speed of said member to said dri'ing wheels.

8. A structure as specilied in claim l. said mechanism including a pair of oppositely araxis and each having a phirality of bevels of different diameters. sliding elements operated in unison by the motor about a common longitudinal axis to engage said bevels, whereby to rotate each oppositely arranged idler at different speeds. a rotary member operated by said idlers about said axis,

means by which to -transmit the variable speed of said member to said driving wheels.

a friction-clut-ch on said axis to reverse the rotation of said member, and means to disengage said member from said idlers and close said clutch to propel the tractor bac-kward.

4. structure as specified in claim l, said mechanism including a longitudinal shaft driven by the motor. sliding le\'els splined on said shaft to rotate in unison. idlers disp'osed at opposite sides of said shaft to engage said bevels and to rotate in opposite directions about a transverse axis. means to control said bevels to drive said idlers at ,the desired speed. a loose bevel slidable on said shaft to engage said idlers. means to communicate the variable speed from said loose bevel to said driving wheels. a clutch to lock said loose bevel to said shaft. aiid means to shift said loose bevel out of engagement with said idlers and close said clutch' to propel the tractor backward.

5. A Structure'as specified in claim 1. said mechanism including a lngitudinal shaftV driven by the motor. sliding bevels splined on said shaft to rotate in unison. idlers disposed at opposite sides of said shaft to e11-- gage said bevels and to rotate in opposite directions about a transverse axis. means to control said bevels to drive said idlers at the desired speed.y a loose bevel slidable. on said shaft to engage said idlers, means to communicate the variable speed from said loose bevel to said driving'wheels, a clutch to lock said loose bevel to said shaft, and means to shift said loose bevel out of engagement with said idlersand close said clutch to propel the tractor backward, one of said splined bevels having a clutch therein to permit rotation thereof on said shaft in one direction only.

(S. A structure as specified in claim 1, said mechanism including 'a longituclinal shaft driven by the motor, sliding bevels splined i'anged idlers operating about. a transverse on said shaft to rotate in unison. idlers disposed at opposite sides ol' said shat't to engage said bevels and to rotate in opposite directions about a transverse axis. means to control said bev'els't' drive said idlers at the desired speed. a loose bevel slidable on said shaft to engage said idlers. means to communicate the variable speed from said loose bevel to said driving wheels. a cluteh to lock said loose bevel to said shat't, and means to shift said loose berel out of engagement with said idlers and close said clntch to propel the tractor backward. said splined bevels being tln'ee in munber` said idlers each having three concentrie portions to engag'e said bevels. and said loose bevel engaging the same idler-portions which are engaged by the middle splined bevel.

7. ln a tractor. a motor. wheels for supporting and driving the tractor, and means including a friction-bevel-change-speedmechanism between said motoiI and drivingI wheels. said mechanism including a pair of oppositel \y arranged idlers each having a plurality of bevels o`t` different diameters. sliding elements operated in unison by the motor about a common longitudinal axis to engage said bevels, whereby to rotate each oppositely arranged idler at different speeds, a rotary member operated at different speeds by said idlers about said axis` and means by which to transmit the variable speed of said member to said driving wheels. said idlers each having a clutch therein to permit the low-speed bevel thereof to rotate thereon in one direction only.

8. In a tractor. a motor. wheels for supporting and driving the tractor. and means including a friction bevel change speedmechanism between said motor and driving wheels. said mechanism including a pair of oppositely arranged idlers each having a plurality of bevels of different diameters, sliding elements operated in unison by the motor about a common longitudinal axis to -engage said bevels. whereby to rotate each oppositely arranged idler atdifferent speeds,

I a rotary member operated by 'said idlers about said axis, means by which to transmit the variable speed of said member to said` driving wheels, a shaft fo1` each idler, a beltpulley for the outer end of each shaft, and means to stop'this rotation of said member while said idlers continue to rotate in oppositev direotions. so that the tractor may remain stationary When it is desired to use said pulleys. i

9. Ina tractor, an axle. mounted to ,skeivi about a Vertical axis. wheels on saidA axle. a difl'erential gearing supported by said axle, connections from said gearing to said Wheels, a motor. a bevel-gear-mechanism in said axle to connect said motor with said difl'erential gearing. and devices to skew said axle, said mechanism including an idler-bevel-gear which rotates about said vertieal axis and other gears which engage said idler-gear. said traetor having a similar axle and gearing and mechanism'for the 'other end thereof. with a shaft extending from one axle tov the other, and one' axle having its idler-bevelgear at the top and the other axle having its idler-bevel-gear at the bottom to balance the torque of said shaft on said devices.

ll).A In a self propelled vehicle or tractor. the combination of a motor having a long'itudinally disposed driving 'shaft. an axle,

driving wheels on said axle, ditferential combimltion with a vertieal pivot bearing for said axle` and means on said pivot bearing to support the rear end of said shaft.

v1:2. A structure as speclhed m claim 10,

said change-speed-mechanism cmprising a i plurality of friction bevels mounted to rotate with said shaft and shde thereon and one or more idlers having a plurallty of -bevelsto engage said sliding friction bevels,

so that said idlers are driven at different speeds. i

13. A structure as specified in claim 10, said reversible gearing vhaving a cluteh which is operable to disconnect this gearing from said change-speed-mcchanism and to connectA said gearing directly to said shaftto propel the tractor backward.

14. In variable speed mechanism, the combination of an idler having bevel vfaces disposed in different planes, a plurality of sliding members of varying size driven, at the same speed and adapted for selectively engaging said idler faces to drive the latterat differentl speeds. and means to transmit the variable speed from said idler.

15. A variable speed 'mechanism as specified in claim 14` in combination with a secon'd idler engaging said members to balance the pressure of said first mentioned idler,

transmitting the var'iable lspeed to `'saidmeans.

16. A variable speed mechanism as specified in claim 1,4, said means comprising a sliding bevel. and a shaft on which said bevel is loosev and Whereon said sliding members are splined. in combination with means for drivi'ng said shaft, and means for dri'ving directly from said shaft 'when the sliding bevel is moved out of engagement with said bevel.

17. A variable speed mechanism as specified in cluim 14, one of said members having a cluteh therein to obviate the necessity 'of disengaging this member from the idler when the speed is changed.

18. val'iable speed mechanism as specitied in (flaim ll. having means whereby .the speed can be changed while all of said members remain in engagelnent With the idler.

19. ln a tractor, the combination of front and rear Wheels. means including a bevel reai'ing having an idler disposed at the bottom thereof to drive the front Wheels, means including a bevel gearing havingan idler disposed at the top thereof to drive the rear Wheels` and a main driving shaft extending from the gearing'for the front Wheels to the gearing for the' rear Wheels, together With means whereby said front and rear Wheels are mounted to skew about front and rear axes coi'ncident with the axes of said idlers.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 15th day of May, 1916.

NORMAN o. WooDIN. 

